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(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATIONpublished in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC

(43) Date of publication: 14.08.2013 Bulletin 2013/33

(21) Application number: 10858094.5

(22) Date of filing: 04.10.2010

(51) Int Cl.:H04M 1/00 (2006.01) H04L 12/56 (0000.00)

H04M 15/00 (2006.01)

(86) International application number: PCT/JP2010/067337

(87) International publication number: WO 2012/046286 (12.04.2012 Gazette 2012/15)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(71) Applicant: Empire Technology Development LLCWilmington, DE 19808 (US)

(72) Inventors: • KURABAYASHI, Shuichi

Fujisawa-shiKanagawa 252-0805 (JP)

• YOSHIDA, NaofumiYokohama-shiKanagawa 245-0013 (JP)

• TAKANO, KosukeFujisawa-shiKanagawa 251-0043 (JP)

(74) Representative: Dennemeyer & Associates S.A.55, rue des Bruyères1274 Howald (LU)

(54) INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE AND PROGRAM

(57) An information processing apparatus stores afirst threshold of a common carrier, the common carriercharging according to the first threshold to be applied toa packet communication volume in each first unit period;performs a packet communication to and from a commu-nication apparatus of the common carrier; calculates apacket communication volume in each second unit periodshorter than the first unit period; and controls the packetcommunication based on the packet communication vol-ume in the second unit period so as to keep the packetcommunication volume in the first unit period below thefirst threshold.

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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a packet communication control based on a packet communication frequency.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, mobile phones are widely used for not only voice call but also packet communication. With thespread of packet communication in mobile phones, a flat rate model for fixing the packet communication fee has beenintroduced. For example, Non Patent Literature 1 discloses a pricing model for fixing the packet communication feeregardless of the packet communication volume. The adoption of the flat rate model allows the user to use packetcommunication without considering the fees, thus promoting the use of network services.[0003] The flat rate model allows all the users to equally use a bandwidth, but may allow a small number of users tooccupy the bandwidth by transmitting and receiving a large amount of data. In light of this, communication service carriersfor mobile phones apply bandwidth limiting measures to the users performing a large amount of packet communicationto prevent bandwidth oligopoly by a part of users.

Citation List

Patent Literature

[0004]

Non Patent Literature 1: Packet Flat-rate Full. [online]. [retrieved on 2010-09-22]. Retrieved from the Internet: <URL:http://mb.softbank.jp/en/price_plans/packet_full.html>

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

[0005] However, such bandwidth limiting measures are uniformly applied to users performing a large amount of packetcommunication in a short period of time, thereby preventing a new network service using a large volume of data fromemerging. Meanwhile, broadband technology for mobile packet communication such as an HSPA (High Speed PacketAccess) which is a high-speed packet communication standard and an eHSPA (Evolved HSPA) increases a temporarilyusable bandwidth. Therefore, it is very important to create a new business opportunity for enabling the use of increasedbandwidth without applying uniform bandwidth limiting measures.[0006] Thus, it is desirable that the pricing model has both of a function of promoting the use of network services likethe flat rate and a function of naturally preventing bandwidth oligopoly like the measured rate.

Solution to Problem

[0007] The information processing apparatus of the present disclosure may include: a threshold storage unit storinga first threshold of a common carrier, the common carrier charging according to the first threshold to be applied to apacket communication volume in each first unit period; a packet communication unit performing packet communicationto and from a communication apparatus of the common carrier; a packet communication volume calculation unit calcu-lating a packet communication volume in each second unit period shorter than the first unit period; and a packet com-munication control unit controlling the packet communication unit based on the packet communication volume in thesecond unit period so as to keep the packet communication volume in the first unit period below the first threshold.[0008] Further, according to the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure, the packet communicationcontrol unit may control whether the packet communication conducted by the packet communication unit is enabled ornot based on the packet communication volume in the second unit period so as to keep the packet communicationvolume in the first unit period below the first threshold.[0009] Further, according to the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure, when the packet com-munication volume in the second unit period exceeds the second threshold obtained by dividing the first threshold in thefirst unit period for each second unit period, the packet communication control unit may stop the packet communicationconducted by the packet communication unit until an average packet communication volume in the second unit periodis equal to or less than the second threshold.

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[0010] Further, according to the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure, the packet communicationcontrol unit may change a size of data transmitted or received by the packet communication unit so as to keep the packetcommunication volume in the first unit period below the first threshold.[0011] In addition, the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure may further include an informationoutput unit outputting information indicating that the size of data is changed.[0012] Further, according to the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure, the packet communicationvolume calculation unit may calculate the packet communication volume in the second unit period using a weight de-termined according to an attribute of a packet.[0013] Further, according to the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure, the attribute of a packetmay include a communication destination with which the packet communication unit communicates through a commu-nication apparatus of the common carrier.[0014] Further, according to the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure, the threshold storage unitmay store the communication time period and the first threshold associated with each other; and the packet communi-cation control unit may control the packet communication unit based on the packet communication volume in the secondunit period so as to keep the packet communication volume in the first unit period below the first threshold correspondingto the communication time period including the current time.[0015] In addition, the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure may further include an informationoutput unit outputting information indicating a relation between the communication time period and the first thresholdbased on the communication time period and the first threshold stored in the threshold storage unit.[0016] In addition, the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure may further include an informationoutput unit outputting information indicating a packet communication volume in each second unit period calculated bythe packet communication volume calculation unit.[0017] In addition, the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure may include: a threshold storageunit storing a threshold to be applied to a packet communication volume in each calculation unit period shorter than acharge unit period for packet communication of a user terminal; a packet communication volume calculation unit calcu-lating a packet communication volume of a user terminal in each calculation unit period; and a charge determinationunit determining a charge in a charge unit period based on a relation between the packet communication volume andthe threshold in each calculated calculation unit period.[0018] Further, according to the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure, when the packet com-munication volume in each calculation unit period exceeds a predetermined number of times, the charge determinationunit may determine the charge in the charge unit period as the charge according to the threshold.[0019] Further, according to the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure, the threshold storage unitmay store the communication time period and a threshold associated with each other; and the charge determinationunit may determine a charge in the charge unit period based on a relation between the packet communication volumein the calculation unit time and the threshold corresponding to the communication time period including the calculationunit time for each calculation unit time.[0020] Note that in the present description, the word "unit" includes a unit implemented by hardware, a unit implementedby software, and a unit implemented by a combination of both. Note also that one unit may be implemented by two ormore pieces of hardware, and two or more units may be implemented by one piece of hardware.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0021]

[Figure 1] Figure 1 illustrates a configuration of a mobile phone system according to the present disclosure.[Figure 2] Figure 2 illustrates an example of a bandwidth level.[Figure 3] Figure 3 illustrates an example of a user interface for contract change.[Figure 4] Figure 4 illustrates an example of a user interface for contract change.[Figure 5] Figure 5 illustrates an example of a screen for setting a packet communication environment.[Figure 6] Figure 6 illustrates an example of a screen for changing a resolution of a still image.[Figure 7] Figure 7 illustrates an example of a screen displaying a moving image.[Figure 8] Figure 8 illustrates an example of a screen for changing a resolution of the moving image.[Figure 9] Figure 9 illustrates an example of a screen displaying a packet frequency performance.[Figure 10] Figure 10 illustrates an example of a user interface for confirming a bandwidth level.[Figure 11] Figure 11 illustrates an example of a screen displaying a bandwidth level.[Figure 12] Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a packet communication control process in a mobilephone terminal.[Figure 13] Figure 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a change process of a size of data transmitted or

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received in the mobile phone terminal.[Figure 14] Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a charge determination process in a server.

Description of Embodiments

== System configuration ==

[0022] Figure 1 illustrates a configuration of a mobile phone system according to the present disclosure. The mobilephone system includes a mobile phone terminal 10, a base station 12, a gateway 14, the Internet 16, and a server 18.The mobile phone system provides not only a voice call service but also a packet communication service.[0023] The mobile phone terminal 10 is an information processing apparatus used by a user using a voice call serviceand a packet communication service. As illustrated in Figure 1, the mobile phone terminal 10 includes an input unit 30,a display unit 31, a packet communication unit 32, a bandwidth level storage unit 33, a bandwidth level receiving unit34, a contract level storage unit 35, a contract level setting unit 36, an environment setting unit 37, a set informationstorage unit 38, a packet frequency calculation unit 39, a packet frequency storage unit 40, a packet communicationcontrol unit 41, and an information output unit 42.[0024] The input unit 30 is used for the user to input operation information to the mobile phone terminal 10, such asan input key and a touch panel.[0025] The display unit 31 is used to display various information to the user, such as a display and an indicator.[0026] The packet communication unit 32 is used for a packet communication through the base station 12. Note thatthe packet communication through the base station 12 includes a packet communication with other mobile phone terminalsof the same common carrier and a packet communication with various external systems through the Internet 16.[0027] The bandwidth level storage unit 33 (threshold storage unit) stores information about a bandwidth level indicatinga packet communication pricing model in the present mobile phone system. Note that the information about a bandwidthlevel indicates a relation between a communication time period and a packet frequency upper limit (threshold). Notealso that the packet frequency refers to a packet communication volume in each unit period (e.g., one hour) shorter thanone day, and can be obtained by the following expression.[Expression 1]

[0028] In the expression (1), pf denotes a packet frequency; di denotes a size of an i-th packet; wi denotes a priorityweight that is a weight for the i-th packet; t denotes a unit period; and n denotes the number of packets communicatedwithin the unit period.[0029] The bandwidth level storage unit 33 can store information about the bandwidth level for each day. In otherword, the relation between the communication time period and the packet frequency upper limit in each bandwidth levelmay vary from day to day.[0030] Figure 2 illustrates an example of the bandwidth level. In Figure 2, the horizontal axis indicates a time periodof packet communication, and the vertical axis indicates a packet frequency. A plurality of bandwidth levels indicatingthe packet communication fee according to the relation between the time period and the packet frequency are illustrated.More specifically, in the example of Figure 2, the relation between the communication time period and the packetfrequency upper limit is illustrated for each bandwidth level from level 1 to the maximum level. For example, in theexample of Figure 2, when the bandwidth level is "level 4", the monthly packet communication fee is 50 dollars. Inaddition, the packet frequency upper limit in "level 4" is set to be higher at night (economy time) than in the day (corebusiness time). Further, the packet frequency upper limit at night in "level 4" is approximately the same as the packetfrequency upper limit in the day in "level 6".[0031] Note that the priority weight considered in calculation of the packet frequency is determined according to theattribute of the packet such as the data size of the content and the communication destination. Examples of the com-munication destination in the packet communication include the following three destinations. The first is a generalcommunication destination such as a communication destination used by the user to access a Web, transmit and receivea general mail message, download a moving image, and perform a video chat. The second is an important communicationdestination such as a communication destination used to receive an emergency earthquake information mail message,communicate with a current position information notice service for confirming the current position of a child or an aged

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person, and receive a mail message having a high emergency issued by an administrative body. The third is a commoncarrier-related communication destination such as a communication destination used for packet communication usinga pay service provided by the common carrier.[0032] Setting the priority weight according to the communication destination can control the effect of the packetcommunication on the packet frequency. For example, setting the priority weight to 1 for the general communicationdestination allows the packet communication volume of a voluntary packet communication by the user to be added tothe packet frequency as is. Further, setting the priority weight to 0 for the important communication destination allowsthe packet communication with the important communication destination to be ignored in calculation of the packetfrequency. In other word, the user can perform packet communication with the important communication destinationwithout considering the effect on the packet frequency. Furthermore, the common carrier is also considered to beresponsible for the packet communication with the common carrier-related communication destination. Therefore, forexample, the priority weight is set to 0.5 for the common carrier-related communication destination, and thereby theeffect of the packet communication with the common carrier-related communication destination on the packet frequencycan be approximately half of that of the packet communication with the general communication destination thereon.[0033] Now, by referring back to Figure 1, the bandwidth level receiving unit 34 receives information about a bandwidthlevel transmitted from the server 18 through the base station 12 and stores the information in the bandwidth level storageunit 33. In other word, the common carrier can update the information about the bandwidth level stored in the mobilephone terminal 10.[0034] The contract level storage unit 35 stores information about a contract level that is a bandwidth level contractedbetween the user of the mobile phone terminal 10 and the common carrier. Note that examples of the pricing modelprovided by the common carrier include the following three models. Type 1 is a pricing model of charging a packetcommunication fee of the bandwidth level according to the packet frequency performance without imposing an upperlimit on the packet frequency usable by the user. Type 2 is a pricing model of charging a fixed packet communicationfee according to the contract level regardless of the packet frequency performance by controlling the packet communi-cation so as not to allow the packet frequency to be equal to or greater than the contract level. Type 3 is a pricing modelof charging a packet communication fee of the bandwidth level according to the packet frequency performance bycontrolling the packet communication so as not to allow the packet frequency to be equal to or greater than the contractlevel. Thus, the contract level storage unit 35 stores not only the information about the contract type but also the informationabout the contract level when the contract type is type 2 or type 3. The information to be stored in the contract levelstorage unit 35 may be set by the common carrier side based on the contract content of the user when the user buysthe mobile phone terminal 10 or may be changed by the user operating the mobile phone terminal 10.[0035] The contract level setting unit 36 can change the setting of the contract type and the contract level accordingto the operation by the user. Note that the contract change content by the operation of the user is transmitted to thecommon carrier side and is stored in the contract level storage unit 35.[0036] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an example of a user interface for contract change provided by the contract levelsetting unit 36. For example, when the user selects the contract change of packet communication from the main menu,a screen illustrated in Figure 3 is displayed. This screen includes a button 60 for changing the contract type and a button61 for changing the contract level. When the contract type change button 60 is pressed, a screen illustrated in Figure 4(A) is displayed. This screen includes radio buttons 62 for selecting the contract type and a change button 63 for instructingthe contract type to be changed to the selected contract type. Figure 4(A) displays the state in which the currentlycontracted contract type is type 2 and the user selects type 3. When the change button 63 is pressed in this state, asillustrated in Figure 4(B), a screen for setting the contract level in type 3 is displayed. The screen illustrated in Figure 4(B) includes radio buttons 64 for selecting the contract level and a set button 65 for instructing the selected contract levelto be set. When the contract level change button 61 is pressed on the screen illustrated in Figure 3, as illustrated inFigure 4(C), a screen for changing the contract level in the currently contracted contract type is displayed. This screenincludes radio buttons 66 for selecting the contract level and a change button 67 for instructing the contract level to bechanged to the selected contract level. In response to the user operation through the user interface, the contract levelsetting unit 36 updates the information about the contract type and the contract level stored in the contract level storageunit 35 and transmits the updated information to the server 18 of the common carrier through the base station 12.[0037] Now, by referring back to Figure 1, the environment setting unit 37 sets the packet communication environmentfor the mobile phone terminal 10. Figure 5 illustrates an example of a screen for setting a packet communication envi-ronment. The screen illustrated in Figure 5 includes an area 68 for inputting a control interval of the packet communication,a list box 69 for selecting whether automatic size change is enabled or not, and a set button 70 for changing the setting.[0038] Here, the control interval refers to an interval for controlling the packet communication so as to keep the packetfrequency below the packet frequency upper limit in the contract level when the contract type is the aforementioned type2 or 3. In other word, the control interval is a unit period (hereinafter referred to as a "control unit period") obtained byfurther dividing a unit period (hereinafter referred to as a "calculation unit period") used to calculate the packet frequencyfor determining the packet communication fee. For example, the calculation unit period may be set to one hour and the

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control unit period may be set to one second.[0039] Further, the automatic size change list box 69 is used to select whether automatic change is "enabled" or"disabled" for the size of data to be transmitted or received when the packet frequency is likely to exceed the contractlevel. In response to the user operation, the environment setting unit 37 generates setting information indicating thecontrol interval, the automatic size change, and like and stores the information in the set information storage unit 38.[0040] The packet frequency calculation unit 39 (packet communication volume calculation unit) calculates a packetfrequency in each control interval (control unit period) stored in the environment setting unit 37 based on the expression(1) and stores the calculated packet frequency in the packet frequency storage unit 40. Further, the packet frequencycalculation unit 39 calculates a packet frequency in each calculation unit period based on the packet frequency in eachcontrol unit period stored in the packet frequency storage unit 40 and stores the calculated packet frequency in thepacket frequency storage unit 40.[0041] The packet communication control unit 41 controls the packet communication unit 32 based on the packetfrequency in each control unit period so as to keep the packet frequency in each calculation unit period below the packetfrequency upper limit in the contract level when the contract type is type 2 or type 3. Note that the packet communicationcontrol method by the packet communication control unit 41 includes stopping the packet communication and changingthe data size.[0042] Here, the description focuses on an example assuming that the calculation unit period is one hour; the controlunit period is one second; the priority weight of all the packets is 1; and the upper limit of the packet communicationvolume in the current time period (one hour) in the contract level is 10 MB (10,485,760 bytes). In this case, the user isallowed an average packet communication volume of 2,912 bytes per second (control unit period), namely, a packetfrequency of 2,912 B/s. When the packet frequency per second calculated by the packet frequency calculation unit 39exceeds 2,912 bytes/s, the packet communication control unit 41 stops the packet communication until the averagepacket frequency per second is 2,912 bytes/s. For example, when the most recent packet frequency per second is 5,824bytes/s, the packet communication control unit 41 stops the packet communication in the next second. Thus, an averagepacket frequency for the two seconds including the most recent second and next second is 2,912 bytes/s. Such controlof the packet communication results in a control so as to keep the packet frequency in each calculation unit period belowthe packet frequency upper limit in the contract level.[0043] Alternatively, the packet communication control unit 41 may change the size of data to be transmitted or receivedso as to keep the packet frequency in each calculation unit period below that in the contract level. Such a change indata size can avoid the packet communication from being stopped. For example, the packet communication control unit41 may display a screen for changing the resolution of an image file attached to a mail message as illustrated in Figure6. This screen includes buttons 71 and 72 for selecting whether the image resolution is changed or not, so as not toallow the packet communication to be stopped. Here, when the "Yes" button 71 is pressed, the packet communicationcontrol unit 41 changes the image resolution so as to keep the packet frequency in each control unit period below thepacket frequency upper limit in the contract level.[0044] For example, as illustrated in Figure 7, when a moving image is received by streaming, the packet communicationcontrol unit 41 may display a selection list 73 for selecting the resolution to perform similar control. More specifically,when the selected resolution may cause the packet frequency in each control unit period to exceed the packet frequencyupper limit in the contract level, the packet communication control unit 41 may display a screen for changing the resolutionof the image as illustrated in Figure 8. This screen includes buttons 74 and 75 for selecting whether the resolution ischanged or not. Here, when the "Yes" button 74 is pressed, the packet communication control unit 41 changes theresolution of the moving image data to be streamed. For example, the packet communication control unit 41 changesthe resolution set by a streaming request from 360 p to 240 p. Thereby, the resolution is reduced, but the continuousreproduction is enabled.[0045] Now, by referring back to Figure 1, the information output unit 42 can display information about the packetfrequency in the mobile phone terminal 10 and information about the relation between the communication time periodand the packet frequency in each bandwidth level to the display unit 31.[0046] For example, as illustrated in Figure 9, the information output unit 42 may display a screen displaying the packetfrequency in each calculation unit period stored in the packet frequency storage unit 40. The screen illustrated in Figure9(A) displays information about today (December 10). On the screen, a bold solid line indicates the packet frequencyperformance. Further, the screen displays three bandwidth levels. The solid line indicates the contract level; and thedotted line indicates the bandwidth level before or after the contract level. Furthermore, the screen displays buttons 76to 78 for changing the target date. For example, on the screen of Figure 9(A), when the "previous day" button 77 ispressed, information about the previous day (December 9) is displayed as illustrated in Figure 9(B). Note that on thescreen of Figure 9(B), the packet frequency is located along the packet frequency upper limit in the contract level forseveral hours from about 12 o’clock. This means that there is a high possibility that the packet communication controlunit 41 controlled the packet communication so as to keep the packet frequency below the packet frequency upper limitin the contract level. Note that the information output unit 42 may be configured to explicitly output the information

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indicating that the packet communication control unit 41 performed a packet communication control.[0047] For example, as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the information output unit 42 may display a screen displayinginformation about a bandwidth level stored in the bandwidth level storage unit 33. The screen illustrated in Figure 10includes: radio buttons 79 for selecting a method of specifying the target date; an area 80 for inputting the date; a listbox 81 for selecting the date; and a button 82 for instructing the information about the specified date to be displayed.For example, when a date (December 10) is inputted in the area 80 and the confirmation button 82 is pressed, theinformation output unit 42 displays the information indicating the bandwidth level on December 10 as illustrated in Figure11(A). Note that the solid line indicates the contract level; and the dotted line indicates the bandwidth level before orafter the contract level. Further, this screen displays buttons 83 to 85 for changing the target date. For example, whenthe date (January 1) is selected in the area 81 and the confirmation button 82 is pressed, the information output unit 42displays the information indicating the bandwidth level on January 1 as illustrated in Figure 11(B). Note that the list box81 includes a date different from an ordinary day in the bandwidth level (particular setting day). For example, around 0O’clock on January 1, contrary to an ordinary day, the number of mail messages to be transmitted or received for newyear’s greetings tends to increase. Therefore, as illustrated in Figure 11(B), the packet frequency upper limit in eachbandwidth level may be reduced in a time period around 0 O’clock on January 1.[0048] Now, by referring back to Figure 1, the base station 12 is a communication apparatus of the common carrier,and a plurality of base stations 12 is located in a service area of the common carrier. Note that generally the mobilephone terminal 10 communicates with a base station 12 having the strongest signal strength at its current position, ofthe plurality of base stations 12.[0049] The gateway 14 controls communication between a network in the common carrier and the Internet 16 that isan external network. For example, when an access request to a Web site on the Internet is issued from the mobile phoneterminal 10, the access request is transmitted from the base station 12 to the Internet 16 side through the gateway 14.When a response to the access request is returned from the Internet 16 side, the response is transmitted from thegateway 14 to the mobile phone terminal 10 through the base station 12.[0050] The server 18 is an information processing apparatus provided on the common carrier side for setting thebandwidth level, determining the charge, and like. As illustrated in Figure 1, the server 18 includes a bandwidth levelsetting unit 50, a bandwidth level storage unit 51, a bandwidth level transmitting unit 52, a contract level setting unit 53,a contract level storage unit 54, a communication performance storage unit 55, a packet frequency calculation unit 56,a packet frequency storage unit 57, a charge determination unit 58, and a charge storage unit 59.[0051] The bandwidth level setting unit 50 sets information about a bandwidth level of each contract type, and storesthe information in the bandwidth level storage unit 51 (threshold storage unit). Here, the information about a bandwidthlevel refers to the information indicating the relation between the communication time period and the packet frequencyupper limit (threshold) in each bandwidth level illustrated in Figure 2. Note that the charge may differ depending on thecontract type even in the same bandwidth level. In addition, the relation between the communication time period andthe packet frequency may differ depending on the day in a contract type.[0052] The bandwidth level transmitting unit 52 can transmits the information about a bandwidth level stored in thebandwidth level storage unit 51 to the mobile phone terminal 10. For example, when information about a bandwidth levelon a particular setting day is newly set, the bandwidth level transmitting unit 52 can transmit the information to the mobilephone terminal 10. Note that the bandwidth level transmitting unit 52 may be configured not to transmit all the informationabout a bandwidth level stored in the bandwidth level storage unit 51 to all the mobile phone terminals 10, but to transmitonly the information required for each mobile phone terminal 10. For example, the bandwidth level transmitting unit 52may transmit only the information about the bandwidth level corresponding to the contract type to each mobile phoneterminal 10.[0053] In response to a request from the contract level setting unit 36 of the mobile phone terminal 10, the contractlevel setting unit 53 sets the contract type and the contract level of the mobile phone terminal 10 and stores them in thecontract level storage unit 54.[0054] The communication performance storage unit 55 stores information indicating a packet communication per-formance in each mobile phone terminal 10. The information indicating a packet communication performance includesinformation indicating the communication time, the communication volume, and the communication destination.[0055] The packet frequency calculation unit 56 (packet communication volume calculation unit) uses the informationstored in the communication performance storage unit 55 to calculate the packet frequency in each calculation unitperiod (e.g., one hour) in a charge unit period (e.g., one month) for each mobile phone terminal 10 based on the expression(1) and stores the calculated packet frequency in the packet frequency storage unit 57. Note that the packet frequencycalculation unit 56 may be configured to calculate the packet frequency on only the mobile phone terminal 10 requiredto calculate the packet frequency for determining the charge. For example, the packet frequency may not be calculatedon a mobile phone terminal 10 in which the contract type is type 2 and its monthly packet communication fee is fixed.[0056] The charge determination unit 58 uses the information stored in the bandwidth level storage unit 51, the contractlevel storage unit 54, and the packet frequency storage unit 57 to determine the charge in the charge unit period for

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each mobile phone terminal 10. Note that the determined charge is associated with the identifier of the mobile phoneterminal 10 and stored in the charge storage unit 59.

== Description of operation ==

[0057] Hereinafter, the description will focus on the packet communication control process in the mobile phone terminal10 and the charge determination process in the server 18.[0058] Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a packet communication control process in the mobile phoneterminal 10. Note that this process may be activated in the case of contract types (type 2 and type 3) in which the packetfrequency upper limit is set and when the mobile phone terminal 10 it turned on.[0059] The packet frequency calculation unit 39 uses the control interval stored in the set information storage unit 38to calculate the packet frequency in the most recent control interval (e.g., one second) based on the expression (1)(S1201) and to store the calculated packet frequency in the packet frequency storage unit 40 (S1202). Then, the packetcommunication control unit 41 confirms whether the packet frequency in the most recent control interval exceeds thepacket frequency upper limit in the current time period in the contract level or not (S1203). If the packet frequency doesnot exceed the packet frequency upper limit (S1203: N), the packet communication control unit 41 does not limit thepacket communication conducted by the packet communication unit 32. If the packet frequency exceeds the packetfrequency upper limit (S1203: Y), the packet communication control unit 41 stops the packet communication conductedby the packet communication unit 32 until the average packet frequency in the control interval is equal to or less thanthe packet frequency upper limit in the contract level (S1204). For example, if the control interval is one second and thepacket frequency in the most recent control interval is three times the packet frequency upper limit in the current timeperiod in the contract level, the packet communication control unit 41 stops the packet communication conducted by thepacket communication unit 32 for the next two seconds. Thereby, the average packet frequency for the three secondsincluding the most recent one second and the next two seconds is equal to or less than the packet frequency upper limitin the contract level.[0060] Figure 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a change process of a size of data transmitted or receivedin the mobile phone terminal 10. Note that this process is activated when the mobile phone terminal 10 makes a requestto transmit or receive size-changeable data such as a still image and a moving image.[0061] First, the mobile phone terminal 10 makes a request to transmit or receive data (S1301). Here, the process oftransmitting or receiving data refers to transmitting a mail message with an image file attached, streaming a movingimage, and like. The packet communication control unit 41 uses the size of the data to be transmitted or received todetermine whether the packet frequency in each control interval (e.g., one second) has a possibility to exceed the packetfrequency upper limit in the contract level or not (S1302). If there is no possibility (S1302: N), the data size is not changedand the data is transmitted or received as requested.[0062] If there is a possibility (S1302: Y), the packet communication control unit 41 confirms the setting informationabout automatic size change stored in the environment setting unit 37 (S1303). If the automatic size change is not set(S1303: N), the packet communication control unit 41 displays a screen for confirming the data size change (S1304) asillustrated in Figures 6 and 8.[0063] If the no-data-size-change is selected (S1305: N), the data size change is not performed and the data with theoriginal data size is transmitted or received. Note that in this case, the process illustrated in Figure 12 is performed andthe packet transmission or receiving is expected to temporarily stop so as to allow the average packet frequency in eachcontrol interval is equal to or less than the contract level.[0064] If the data-size-change is selected (S1305: Y), the packet communication control unit 41 changes the data sizeso as to keep the packet frequency in each control interval below the packet frequency upper limit in the contract level(S1306). Note that even if the automatic size change is set (S1303: Y), the packet communication control unit 41 changesthe data size in the same manner (S1306).[0065] Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the charge determination process in the server 18. Note thatthis process is periodically performed such as a process of determining the charge in each charge unit period (e.g., onemonth).[0066] First, the packet frequency calculation unit 56 confirms whether there is a mobile phone terminal 10 as a targetfor calculating the packet communication fee or not (S1401). More specifically, a confirmation is made that there is amobile phone terminal 10 whose contract type is that the packet communication fee is changed according to the packetfrequency and whose calculation of the packet communication fee is not completed. If there is no mobile phone terminal10 (S1401: N), the process ends.[0067] If there is a mobile phone terminal 10 to be calculated (S1401: Y), the packet frequency calculation unit 56selects the mobile phone terminal 10 to be calculated (S1402). Then, the packet frequency calculation unit 56 calculatesthe packet frequency in each calculation unit period (e.g., one hour) of the selected mobile phone terminal 10 based onthe information stored in the communication performance storage unit 55 (S1403) and stores the calculated packet

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frequency in the packet frequency storage unit 57 (S1404).[0068] The charge determination unit 58 compares the packet frequency in each calculation unit period stored in thepacket frequency storage unit 57 with the packet frequency upper limit in the bandwidth level corresponding to thecontract type stored in the bandwidth level storage unit 51 (S1405). Then, the charge determination unit 58 determinesthe packet communication fee based on the comparison result (S1406) and stores the determined packet communicationfee in the charge storage unit 59. More specifically, when the contract type is type 1 or type 3, the charge determinationunit 58 determines which bandwidth level the packet frequency performance corresponds to, determines the fee set tothe determined bandwidth level as the packet communication fee, and stores the determined fee in the charge storageunit 59. Note that when a packet frequency performance value in a mobile phone terminal 10 exceeds the packetfrequency upper limit in a bandwidth level a predetermined number of times, the charge determination unit 58 maydetermine the fee set to the bandwidth level as the packet communication fee.[0069] The above processes (S1401 to 1407) are repeatedly executed while there is a mobile phone terminal 10 asa target for calculating the packet communication fee.[0070] It should be noted that the present disclosure should not be limited to the aforementioned embodiments, butvarious modifications, additions, and omissions may be made without departing from the idea and the scope disclosedin the claims.[0071] The present disclosure has focused on the mobile phone terminal 10 as an example of an information processingapparatus performing packet communication, but the information processing apparatus is not limited to the mobile phoneterminal 10. For example, the information processing apparatus may be any terminal performing packet communicationto and from a communication apparatus of the common carrier such as a personal digital assistance and a note PC.Note that the information processing apparatus such as a personal digital assistance and a note PC may use a datacommunication card to perform packet communication to and from a communication apparatus of the common carrier.In such a configuration, driver software for using the data communication card corresponds to the packet communicationunit 32 of the present disclosure. Note also that the packet communication is not limited to wireless communication, butmay be wired communication such as optical communication and ADSL.

Reference Signs List

[0072]

10 mobile phone terminal12 base station14 gateway16 Internet18 server30 input unit31 display unit32 packet communication unit33 bandwidth level storage unit34 bandwidth level receiving unit35 contract level storage unit36 contract level setting unit37 environment setting unit38 set information storage unit39 packet frequency calculation unit40 packet frequency storage unit41 packet communication control unit42 information output unit50 bandwidth level setting unit51 bandwidth level storage unit52 bandwidth level transmitting unit53 contract level setting unit54 contract level storage unit55 communication performance storage unit56 packet frequency calculation unit57 packet frequency storage unit58 charge determination unit59 charge storage unit

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Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a threshold storage unit storing a first threshold of a common carrier, the common carrier charging accordingto the first threshold to be applied to a packet communication volume in each first unit period in association witha communication time period;a packet communication unit performing packet communication to and from a communication apparatus of thecommon carrier;a packet communication volume calculation unit calculating a packet communication volume in each secondunit period shorter than the first unit period; anda packet communication control unit stopping packet communication conducted by the packet communicationunit until an average packet communication volume in the second unit period is equal to or less than the secondthreshold so as to keep the packet communication volume in the first unit period below the first threshold whenthe packet communication volume in the second unit period exceeds the second threshold obtained by dividingthe first threshold corresponding to the communication time period including a current time for each second unitperiod.

2. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a threshold storage unit storing a first threshold of a common carrier, the common carrier charging accordingto the first threshold to be applied to a packet communication volume in each first unit period;a packet communication unit performing packet communication to and from a communication apparatus of thecommon carrier;a packet communication volume calculation unit calculating a packet communication volume in each secondunit period shorter than the first unit period; anda packet communication control unit controlling the packet communication unit based on the packet communi-cation volume in the second unit period so as to keep the packet communication volume in the first unit periodbelow the first threshold.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe packet communication control unit controls whether the packet communication conducted by the packet com-munication unit is enabled or not based on the packet communication volume in the second unit period so as tokeep the packet communication volume in the first unit period below the first threshold.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the packet communication volume in thesecond unit period exceeds the second threshold obtained by dividing the first threshold in the first unit period foreach second unit period, the packet communication control unit stops the packet communication conducted by thepacket communication unit until an average packet communication volume in the second unit period is equal to orless than the second threshold.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe packet communication control unit changes a size of data transmitted or received by the packet communicationunit so as to keep the packet communication volume in the first unit period below the first threshold.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprisingan information output unit outputting information indicating that the size of the data is changed.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe packet communication volume calculation unit calculates the packet communication volume in the second unitperiod using a weight determined according to an attribute of a packet.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, whereinthe attribute of the packet includes a communication destination in communication with the packet communicationunit through a communication apparatus of the common carrier.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe threshold storage unit stores the communication time period and the first threshold associated with each other; and

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the packet communication control unit controls the packet communication unit based on the packet communicationvolume in the second unit period so as to keep the packet communication volume in the first unit period below thefirst threshold corresponding to the communication time period including the current time.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprisingan information output unit outputting information indicating a relation between the communication time period andthe first threshold based on the communication time period and the first threshold stored in the threshold storage unit.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprisingan information output unit outputting information indicating a packet communication volume in each second unitperiod calculated by the packet communication volume calculation unit.

12. A packet communication method comprising:

in an information processing apparatus,storing a first threshold of a common carrier, the common carrier charging according to the first threshold to beapplied to a packet communication volume in each first unit period;performing a packet communication to and from a communication apparatus of the common carrier;calculating the packet communication volume in each second unit period shorter than the first unit period; andcontrolling the packet communication based on packet communication volume in the second unit period so asto keep the packet communication volume in the first unit period below the first threshold.

13. A program causing an information processing apparatus to perform:

a function of performing packet communication to and from a communication apparatus of the common carrier,the common carrier charging according to a first threshold to be applied to a packet communication volume foreach first unit period;a function of calculating a packet communication volume in each second unit period shorter than the first unitperiod; anda function of controlling the packet communication based on the packet communication volume in the secondunit period so as to keep the packet communication volume in the first unit period below the first threshold.

14. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a threshold storage unit storing a threshold to be applied to a packet communication volume in each calculationunit period shorter than a charge unit period with respect to packet communication of a user terminal;a packet communication volume calculation unit calculating a packet communication volume of the user terminalin each calculation unit period; anda charge determination unit determining a charge in the charge unit period based on a relation between thepacket communication volume and the threshold in each calculation unit period calculated.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, whereinthe charge determination unit determines the charge in the charge unit period as a fee according to the thresholdwhen the packet communication volume in the calculation unit period exceeds the threshold a predetermined numberof times.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, whereinthe threshold storage unit stores the communication time period and the threshold associated with each other; andthe charge determination unit determines the charge in the charge unit period based on an relation between thepacket communication volume in the calculation unit time and the threshold corresponding to the communicationtime period including the calculation unit time for each calculation unit time.

17. A charging method comprising:

in an information processing apparatus,storing a threshold to be applied to a packet communication volume in each calculation unit period shorter thana charge unit period with respect to a packet communication of a user terminal;calculating a packet communication volume of the user terminal in each calculation unit period; and

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determining the charge in the charge unit period based on a relation between the packet communication volumeand the threshold in each calculation unit period calculated.

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